Wallaceburg’s annual showcase event is just around the corner.
The 26th annual Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing (WAMBO) is taking place in Wallaceburg from Aug. 8-10.
Bill Wolsing, the new event chair, said WAMBO 26 will feature the same kind of show and the same kind of set up the community is accustomed to.
“Better entertainment, food vendors are all coming back and hopefully we’ll have some weather that will cooperate with us, Wolsing said. “It makes or breaks this event sometimes.”
Wolsing said the entertainment this year will be top-notch.
“We’ve been striving for better entertainment every year,” he said. “Last year we had the Eagles tribute and it was very successful. This year the Soul Signatures are playing Saturday afternoon inside the refreshment tent area, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. They’re a local blues band. On Friday night we have Blutonium. They’re like a Top 40 classic band that are pretty popular around here. Saturday night we have the Bob Seger tribute Katmandu. It’s going to be exciting to see, they have a five-piece band. They have a six-song collage of tunes they do. It’s pretty neat. They sound good.”
Wolsing said people can expect a great lineup of antique cars and boats once again.
“There is going to be the cars, the crafts, the vendors, arts in the park, the Friday night parade is going through town, the fire truck parade is still happening. Lots of things going on.”
Wolsing added a special wood carver will be on hand during the day on Saturday, who will be carving four different carvings throughout the day. Sometime on Saturday night all four carvings are going to be auctioned off.
Wolsing said overall the event is Wallaceburg’s “shining star.
“It’s our weekend where we can show the visitors what we’re all about. Especially on Friday night downtown, it’s a homecoming. It’s people that haven’t seen each other in a while. It’s great to see the smiling faces and everyone is happy to be here,” he said.
Wolsing said he is happy to take on the chairing duties this year.
“I started off as just a vendor manager and over the years I became a director and I knew the possibility of being the chairman was going to happen,” he said. “I accepted it. I knew there was going to be challenges, there are challenges doing this job but it is very rewarding when it is all done.
Wolsing added: “I remember when Chipper (Chip Gordon) would get emotional when WAMBO was all done because of all the hard work that he did. I can see now what it entails, but we’re going to do it and we’re going to do it well.”
Wolsing said the WAMBO committee is alwasy looking for more volunteers to step up and help with the organizing for next years event.
Anyone interested can contact the committee through the WAMBO website here.
Here is a full listing of the events taking place at WAMBO 26:
Friday, August 8
5:00 pm Opening Ceremonies & bell ringing at Wallaceburg Civic Park (near fountain)
All Day Arrival of boats on the Sydenham River
5:00 until sold out Knights of Columbus BBQ at James & Nelson St., with 2 man acoustic duo.
7:00 – ? Entertainment Tent featuring Blutonium in downtown Wallaceburg. Be sure to bring lawn chairs!
5:00 – 9:00 pm Terry Glover Memorial Cruise gathering at 5 pm, Cruise to start at 7pm at Canadian Tire. Full route information is available here.
Saturday, August 9
8:00 am – 5 pm Boats along Sydenham River
8:00 – 11:00 am Knights of Columbus Breakfast – James St Municipal Parking Lot
8:00 am – 5 pm Cars & Motorcycles on James St.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Wallaceburg, Canadian Power & Sail Squadron Challenge & VHS Licensing – Library Park
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Fire Truck Show registration till noon – Wallace St., east of Hope St. & WAMBO Tour Wagon Stop
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Annual Toy & Model Show – on the south side of the river, across the walking bridge, featuring face painting, air boat display, antique tractors, Martial Arts displays, model trains, chainsaw carving display, Toy show, Chatham-Kent Block Parent Program, and more!.
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Art on the Boardwalk – South Side
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Craft Tables – South Side
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Wallaceburg & District Museum – King St., one block south of Walking Bridge
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Karaoke tent by the Wallaceburg Library.
10:00 am – 1:00 pm Soap Box Racing Practice and Time Trials on South Side
12:00 pm – 1:00pm Police Boat Parade – River
12:00 pm – 1:00pm Boat Awards
1:00 pm Soap Box Racing on South Side
2:00 pm Participants BBQ draw at the Radio station
3:00 pm Fire Truck Parade
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Awards Ceremonies for Cars – there will be a People’s Choice Ballot Box available for spectators to vote.
7:00 pm – ? Live Music featuring Katmandu, a Bob Seger tribute band – at James St. municipal parking lot (Liquidation World). Be sure to bring lawn chairs!
Sunday, August 10
10:00 – 11:30 pm Interdenominational Church Service – James St. Municipal Parking Lot
